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< Back Naomi Plant Naomi Plant Anishinaabe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Builder 2025 Naomi Plant was a proud Anishnabekwe from Wiikwemikoong Unceded Territory. In 2016 she played for the first ever U-19 Indigenous British Columbia (BC) female box lacrosse team and the team earned a bronze medal at the 2017 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG). She played on the Storm Select Society All Native team in 2018, won the silver medal in Six Nations, and placed third in the 2022 inaugural Women’s Box Lacrosse Tournament in San Jose. Naomi played for the Aquinas College (MI) women's lacrosse team from 2020-2022. Her best season was in 2021 when she scored 15 goals and 16 assists over 10 games. In total, Plant scored 26 times and assisted 23 more over 29 games. She accumulated 29 ground balls, nine caused turnovers, and 28 draw controls. Naomi played for Arlee High School (MT), was a captain in 2015 and received team awards each year, and she helped her team win three state championships. She was also awarded at State finals the all-star girl’s lacrosse team award three times. Naomi also played on the Flathead Indian Reservation 10 Sticks Lacrosse High School Boys’ Varsity Team. Naomi had an underlying drive to help Indigenous youth through sports. Having relatives throughout Turtle Island, she helped with numerous box lacrosse camps for female players in British Columbia, driving long hours to attend. This helped increase knowledge of the game and female participation in BC’s interior. She also ran camps on her home reservation in Arlee, Montana. This was her way of giving back to the sport and inspiring the next generation of male and female players. Her passion for sharing her knowledge of traditional sports wasn’t just refined to the Medicine Game, but also her passion for native games. She would teach these at several schools, cultural venues and community events. Some of these events and programs included Salish Cultural Camps, Patty and Willie Steven’s youth camp, Arlee School Native American Heritage Days, St. Ignatius Native American Heritage Days, Salish Institute lacrosse nights, and locally in her community. <Back

< Back Marcus Oliveira Marcus Oliveira Menominee Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Builder 2025 Marcus Derwin Oliveira, “The Phenom Menom,” was born on March 18, 1979, and raised on the Menominee Indian Reservation in Keshena, Wisconsin. He began boxing at the age of seven years old and went on to have a very impressive and decorated amateur record of 375+ fights and only lost 30 times. With his impressive skills, aggressiveness and unmatched strength inside the ring, he earned himself a spot training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado. Marcus went on to make it to the Olympic Trials, losing by only one point to make the USA Olympic team. In April of 2006 Oliveira made his much-anticipated professional debut with a knockout win against Daniel Russell. Marcus went on to win his next six fights by knockouts, five of them being in the first round. Due to Marcus’ extraordinary boxing skills he was approached in 2010 by legendary boxing promoter Don King and was immediately signed to Don King Promotions. He went on to fight some of the top fighters in his light heavyweight division to become ranked #1 in the world for two years. Marcus held several titles and belts, including ABF, WBA fedebol, and NABA. In his professional career he had an impressive record of 38 fights, with 28 wins and 22 by way of knockout, nine losses and one draw. Marcus retired from boxing in 2023 and currently resides in Lawrence, Kansas and focuses his time raising his son and daughter, and working for the environmental protection agency on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Indian reservation in Mayetta, KS. He is married to Shiloh LeBeau-Oliveira, 2023 NAIAHF inductee. In his spare time he and his wife travel for speaking engagements and hosting boxing workshops on different Native American reservations to inspire, motivate and encourage the youth to live a positive healthy lifestyle while helping them to build confidence, discipline, and skills through the sport of boxing. <Back

Craig Berube Category Coach Tribe Cree Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 12/17/1965 Craig Berube is the head coach of the National Hockey Leagues (NHL) St. Louis Blues. Since taking over the team during the 2018-19 season, the team was in last place and then led the team to a 38-19-6 record. One of the biggest turnarounds in NHL history occurred and the St. Louis Blues finished as the first in franchise history the winners of the Stanley Cup. He originally joined the Blues as an associate head coach in 2017. Before joining the Blues, he served as the head coach of the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves. He played 17 seasons in the NHL in over 1000 games between 1986-2004 for the Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals, and New York Islanders. Home 2026 Banquet About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

Nicole Johnson Category Athlete Tribe Inupiaq Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 5/20/1969 Nicole Johnson’s passion for Inuit games started in fifth grade when she learned how to do the Two-Foot High Kick after church in a youth program. Inuit games are games that were played to build the survival skills Indigenous people of the North played to develop the skills need for everyday survival and just for fun. In seventh grade, Nicole entered her first competition at the 1982 Native Youth Olympics (NYO), taking first place in the Two-Foot High Kick. She continued to compete through high school, at NYO, the World Eskimo Indian Olympics (WEIO), and the Arctic Winter Games (AWG). After high school she continued to compete until 2004, over the years winning over 100 medals, earning the outstanding athlete award, and sportsmanship award, at various competitions. She has set records in several events over the years, setting her first record in the Two-Foot High Kick at the 1985 NYO and continued to break her record until the 1989 WEIO, kicking 6’6”. This record held for 25 years. Her record in the Two-Foot High Kick at AWG, still holds at 6’5”. In 2017, Nicole was inducted into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame, as an athlete and ambassador to Native Games. Nicole is the former chairwoman of WEIO, and current President of AWG Team Alaska. Nicole currently works with the Cook Inlet Tribal Council, coaching youth, training officials, assists with organizing the statewide Native Youth Olympics competitions, and acting as the head official for many different competitions. Her passion for the Inuit games continues by sharing and preserving the rich history and culture of these sports through coaching, instruction at schools, throughout Alaska, the lower 48, and the Yukon territories. Photo: Cook Inlet Tribal Council Home 2026 Banquet About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame (NAIAHF) Banquet Sponsorship Information Saturday, May 30th, 2026 Oneida Casino Hotel; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA 2026 Sponsorship Information: The deadline to receive sponsorship payment and copy ready logos is noon central time on May 1, 2026. Payment can be sent to PayPal to code: coach.danninham@midco.net or postal mailed in a check or money order to Empowered Youth Development Initiatives, PO Box 652, Red Lake, MN, USA, 56671. Contact Dr. Dan Ninham at 218.368.6430 or coach.danninham@gmail.com to receive additional details about the 2026 NAIAHF Banquet sponsorship opportunities. Sponsorship provides a Nike red bag, 2’x4’ banner and gift to attending inductees. Note: No one is allowed to use the NAIAHF logo to print on a product without written consent from Dr. Dan and Susan Ninham. Platnum Sponsor $7,500 Five reserved VIP banquet tables for 10 per table and 50 total Logo and website link on the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame webpage Logo and website link on the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame webpage 2’x4’ banner at the banquet and property of the sponsor One sponsor spokesperson will speak for five minutes at the afternoon banquet session Announcement of Platinum sponsors at the banquet Gold Sponsor $5,000 Three reserved VIP banquet tables for 10 per table and 30 total Logo and website link on the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame webpage 2’x4’ banner at the banquet and property of the sponsor One sponsor spokesperson will speak for five minutes at the afternoon banquet session Announcement of Gold sponsors at the banquet Silver Sponsor $3,000 Two reserved VIP banquet tables for 10 per table and 20 total Logo and website link on the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame webpage 2’x4’ banner at the banquet and property of the sponsor One sponsor spokesperson will speak for five minutes at the afternoon banquet session Announcement of Silver sponsors at the Banquet Bronze Sponsor $1,000 One reserved VIP banquet table for 10 total Logo and website link on the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame webpage 2’x4’ banner at the banquet and property of the sponsor One sponsor spokesperson will speak for five minutes at the afternoon banquet session Announcement of Bronze sponsors at the Banquet Hall Of Fame Table Sponsor $400 per 10 seat table 2’x4’ banner at the banquet and property of the sponsor Sponsor may designate who will be seated or allow Dr. Dan and Susan to seat people Announcement as a Table Sponsor at the Banquet Hall of Fame Banquet Drawing Prize Sponsor $500+ retail value of drawing prizes 2’x4’ banner at the banquet and property of the sponsor Announcement as a Drawing Sponsor at the Banquet 2025 Sponsors

< Back Jaci McCormack Jaci McCormack Nez Perce Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Builder 2025 Jaci McCormack grew up on the Nez Perce Reservation outside of Lewiston, Idaho. She fell in love with basketball early on and earned a scholarship to play for Illinois State University, where her team competed in the 2005 NCAA Tournament. After her college career, Jaci was inspired to return home and give back to her community. She served as the Deputy Executive Director for the Nez Perce Tribe, as well as the Youth Prevention Director, building deep relationships with tribal and community partners. In 2015, Jaci founded Rise Above, a non-profit organization that gives Native American youth the skills and resilience to overcome their circumstances and write their own futures. As the CEO of Rise Above, Jaci leads the organization in its mission to empower youth through a variety of programs including sports, education, financial literacy, prevention skills, and mentorship, using prevention strategies that will spark change in people’s lives. Jaci attracted an incredible group of engaged and like-minded partners and donors across the country who believed in Rise Above’s mission to empower Native American youth, including over 30 tribes, investors, prevention advocates, sports legends, and hall-of-famers, and Hollywood stars including Three Time NBA Hall of Famer, Lenny Wilkens and Award-Winning Actor Danny Glover. In 2024 Rise Above established a formal partnership with the Seattle Storm to increase basketball opportunities for BIPOC, low-income, and historically underserved youth, with a focus on the Native community in Seattle and Washington State. Jaci’s life story will be the subject of an upcoming feature film, produced by Danny Glover, Preston Holmes and Lenny Wilkens. The screenplay was written by Erica Trembly, an award- winning native writer. The film is set for production in 2025 with a projected release in 2026. In 2022, Jaci was invited to be a presenter and panelist at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health and she was appointed by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell to serve on Seattle's first Indigenous Advisory Council. She is also the recipient of the 2024 Seattle Sports Commission Sports Equity and Inclusion Award. <Back

< Back Lori McAuley Lori McAuley Nehiyew iskwew Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Lori McAuley has generously given over fifty years to the sport of canoe/kayak in Saskatchewan. She has mentored and inspired hundreds, perhaps thousands to compete, coach and champion the sport, introducing Indigenous youth to kayaking and ensuring canoeing keeps its foothold as a traditional sport. Coming from a family of competitive paddlers, Lori was racing on the professional circuit by age 16. She also began her lifelong commitment of giving back, making an indelible impact on youth throughout Saskatchewan. Lori took on the work as the volunteer NAIG Games Head Coach and Coordinator for Saskatchewan beginning with the 2002 Games. She chaired committees, planned, and implemented athlete development programs, ran trials, managed, and coached teams for four sets of Games, plus the postponed 2020 Games. Lori ran the Canoe event at four Saskatchewan First Nations Games (SNFG). Her involvement was all encompassing, from setting racecourses to being the Chief Official. Lori also spearheaded Games programs for the Saskatoon Tribal Council. Lori’s commitment is highlighted by: • An historically successful team - Saskatchewan led the medal count in canoeing at every Games except 2017, winning 50 medals in 2014 alone. • Raising the bar with Games programs and competition by administering and coaching excellent programs and by keeping the needs of youth at the forefront. • Mentoring youth including a paddler went on to medal at Canada Games and national team selection. • Building a community network of volunteers, coaches, and managers, mentoring coaches to become certified. • Making her commitment a family contribution. Lori’s husband and children were heavily involved as volunteers with the SFNG and NAIG Games. • Her use of sport to positively impact youth. Her approach is holistic, exposing athletes to mental training, nutrition, and land training. She encourages excellence in sport, academics and everyday life, inspiring athletes to become role models in their community. Photo Credit: Lori McAuley with husband Dale McAuley at the 2017 North American Indigenous Games <Back

< Back David Powless David Powless Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 David Powless’ high school football team was the undefeated Illinois State Champions of 1960. He was an All State offensive tackle. He received college football scholarship offers. He chose the Oklahoma University (OU). He left OU as a sophomore and went to the University of Illinois and played offensive guard on the University of Illinois Big 10 and Rose Bowl Championship team in 1964. In 1965 as a graduating senior he was drafted in the National Football League (NFL) by the New York Giants and also by the American Football League (AFL) by the Kansas Chiefs. He was with the New York Giants one year and then went to the Washington Redskins his second year. That year he had a spinal injury requiring surgery that ended his football career. Powless worked for Native American tribes including his Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin. He also owned several personal businesses. His expertise was in economic development. In 1983 he received an award in the “White House Rose Garden” from Vice President of the United States George Bush for the development of recycling technology. In 2008 he was inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame for his athletic contributions. <Back

Rick Baker <Back Hopi Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2024 Rick Baker arrived at Hopi High School in Arizona in 1987. He has coached the boys program since 1987 and the girls program since 2017. Baker’s coaching honors include: 2022 National Federation of High School Athletics Cross Country Coach of the Year 2020 National Federation High School Athletics Hall of Fame 2015 National Federation High School Cross Country Coach of the Year National Federation High School-Cross Country Region-8 Coach of the Year two times Coached Hopi Boys’ Cross Country to 27 consecutive State Championships between 1990-2017; to 24 North Regional XC Championships between 1990-2014; and to two state runner-up finishes in 2018 and 2019 Coached Hopi Girls Cross Country to two State Runner-Up Championships during the 2018 and 2019 seasons Coached nine Individual State Champions Coached Arizona’s only perfect score (15 pts.) at the 1999 State Meet Baker was also a national class runner. He was the 1977 Individual Arizona State Mile Champion (4:20.6), a team member of the National Junior College Athletic Association All-American-Indoor Distance Medley Relay, a team member of the NAIA All-American-Indoor and National Champion Distance Medley Relay, and honored as the Tony Coffin Award/Outstanding Athlete Award-Haskell Indian Junior College, 1978. Baker’s wife of 37 years is Deborah Secakuku Baker and sons are Chad Andrew Baker and Steven Secakuku Baker.

Iroquois Nationals U19 World Lacrosse Games Category Team Tribes Iroquois Confederacy Year Inducted 2022 In the summer of 1999, the Iroquois Nationals participated in the U19 World Lacrosse Games in Adelaide, Australia. It was a privilege to represent our community, Akwesasne, as well as the Iroquois Nationals on the world platform playing Tewa’a:raton or lacrosse. Drew Bucktooth, Delby Powless and myself were co-captains and it was a great honor not only to help lead the incredible talent that was comprised of our team, but to also stand alongside players who I have incredible respect for on the lacrosse field. As young men, this was the first time for many of us to be able to participate in playing the game we love, the gift from the Creator, on the international level. That year we brought home the bronze, and a big component of that was the amazing coaching staff from some of the greatest in the game, along with the natural talent that the team was comprised of. This is evident as many of the players from that team went on to have successful and long careers in lacrosse on a professional level. While in Australia, we were truly overwhelmed at the amount of support we received from many of the teams across the world, but particularly the Australian Aboriginal community. This is just a prime example of how lacrosse can truly unify people; regardless if it is between neighbors playing the game together or people who live on opposite sides of the world and have entirely different cultures. I am forever thankful for my experience that I had participating in the games and the lifelong friendships that were forged. Nia:wen to all that continue to support our young Onkwehonwe lacrosse players. I am so proud of how much the game has grown and the amazing talent that is on display from our people. I am confident that one day the Iroquois Nationals will bring home the gold to our people and the entire world will recognize the original creators of the medicine game. -written by Freeman Bucktooth Home 2026 Banquet About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Lindy Waters III Lindy Waters III Kiowa/Cherokee Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Lindy Waters III is a Native American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association. He was born in Boulder, Colorado to Lisa and Lindy Waters, Jr. At age four, Lindy, his parents and his three sisters, Leana, Loren and Lindsey, moved to Norman, Oklahoma where he attended school and played several sports, including basketball, baseball, and football. After graduating from high school, Lindy was offered multiple college basketball scholarships. He attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma where he started in over 100 games and finished his college basketball career with over 1,000 points, 250 assists and 100 steals. Lindy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management. He is a citizen of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma and the Cherokee Nation. In 2018, Lindy was named “Indian of the Year” by the American Indian Exposition, one of the nation’s oldest and largest intertribal celebrations. In 2022, he founded the Lindy Waters III Foundation whose mission is to enhance and support Native American youth and Indigenous communities through sports, health and wellness, and leadership programs. The foundation is committed to providing a platform for individual improvement, opportunity, exposure and access for all Native youth. Action shot photo credit: Getty Images Profile photo credit: Loren Waters, Waters Media <Back

Cherlyn Dawn Billy <Back Shuswap Nation Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2023 Cherlyn Billy was part of the U-19 Indigenous Female Team BC for the 2017 North American Indigenous Games. This was the first time that the NAIG games had female box lacrosse, and because of this Cherlyn wanted the players to get the full recognition for it. She set up interviews for players with the media, fundraised so they could get new and proper gear and most importantly instilled in them that they were proud Indigenous woman. The team brought home bronze in the games, and fond memories. From this Cherlyn created the BC Storm Lacrosse, a team and group dedicated to using lacrosse as a way to connect culture, history and traditions. Cherlyn coached the first Storm team in an All Nations tournament in 2018 in Six Nations and the team brought home a bronze medal. She used this platform to support players who went to play for Haudenosaunee at the 2019 U-19 Female Field Lacrosse World Games; and later those trying out for the 2022 Haudenosaunee Women’s and Sixes teams in which Cherlyn had multiple athletes of hers on the teams. She took the second Storm Team to the first ever US Box lacrosse women’s tournament in San Jose, in Aug of 2022 and were bronze medalists. Team photo after winning the Bronze medal at the 2017 NAIG for Team BC U-19 Female Lacrosse; Photo Credit: Tanya Foreman and Danya Shima Professional Photo Credit: Carolyn Billy